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The Mission of John the Baptist

Verse1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Verse2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

Verse3He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

Verse4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.

Verse5Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.

Verse6And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”

Verse7Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Verse8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Verse9The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Verse10The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

Verse11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

Verse12Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Verse13“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.

Verse14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

Verse15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.

Verse16John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Verse17His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Verse18With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.

Verse19But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,

Verse20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

Verse21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,

Verse22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus

Verse23Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Verse24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Verse25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Verse26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

Verse27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

Verse28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

Verse29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

Verse30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

Verse31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

Verse32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,

Verse33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

Verse34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Verse35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Verse36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Verse37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

Verse38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.